Hammer thrower rounding into form

Tim Wilson dabbled with the hammer as part of his throwing disciplines in high school but it never mattered much because the event didn't score points for Washingtonville.

Ken McMillan

Tim Wilson dabbled with the hammer as part of his throwing disciplines in high school but it never mattered much because the event didn't score points for Washingtonville.

Once he got to college, though, the points were back on the table and Monmouth University throws coach Abraham Flores tabbed the 6-foot-5, 340-pound Wilson as his next hammer project.

"My throws coach "» when he says somebody is going to be good, I know he is almost always right. I don't mess with that,'' said Monmouth head coach Joe Compagni.

Wilson said he struggled with the heavier collegiate hammer (which is four pounds heavier than the ones used in high school) at the start of the season but started to round into form by time the championships rolled around. During spring competition, he won the Greyhound Invitational, placed second at the Lehigh Games and took third at the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference championships, improving each step of the way.

Last week in Eugene, Ore., Wilson threw 193 feet, 11 inches to place 14th at the U.S. Junior National championships. The mark was about four feet shy of his personal best with the 14-pound hammer.

"Going to junior nationals in Oregon was the greatest experience of my life,'' said Wilson, who had qualified for the 2013 meet but couldn't attend because of a conflict with his high school graduation.

Compagni likes how Wilson has good size, a strong interest in the event and has impressive marks considering he's only been throwing for three years. Wilson's best collegiate toss, with the 16-pound hammer, is 179 feet, 10 inches, putting him within striking range of Monmouth's two All-Americans: Augie Zilincar threw 207-10 in 1968 and Joe Madden threw 206-11 in 2001.

"Timmy's marks are on par with where those guys were as freshmen,'' Compagni said. "I do think Tim can get beyond that and become an All-American in his remaining three years here.''

Wilson also shows great promise with the indoor weight throw. He placed third at the MAAC meet with a personal-best throw of 59 feet, 5 ½ inches. He is 6 feet and 1 inch behind the school mark of teammate and recent grad Errol Jeffrey.

"My short-term goal would be the weight-throw record, which I am hoping to break this coming year,'' Wilson said. "Earning All-American would be my long-term goal going into my junior and senior years.'' As for the hammer, Wilson said he wants to approach 200 feet next season.

Wilson's attraction to the hammer is its technical skill-set, combined with raw power.

"One little slip up and the whole throw can be ruined,'' he said. "I know every turn needs to be spot on, every line is crucial and the release is crucial. That's why I love it.''

kmcmillan@th-record.com; Twitter: @KenMcMillanTHR

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